1. Test Anxiety

2. Test Anxiety Sound Like You?
You’ve participated in class, done all of your homework, studied hard, and you think you have a grip on the material. BUT - then the day of the test comes. Suddenly, you blank out, freeze up, zone out, or feel so nervous that you can’t get it together
to respond to those questions you knew the
answers to just last night.

3. Test Anxiety Technical Definition
A psychological condition in which a person experiences distress before, during, or after an exam or other assessment to such an extent that this anxiety causes poor performance or interferes with normal learning.

4. Test Anxiety
What Is It?
A type of performance anxiety - a feeling someone might have in a situation where performance really counts or when the pressure is on to do well
IT IS NOT THE SAME AS: doing poorly on a test because your mind was on something else

5. Test Anxiety Symptoms Physical: 1. headaches,
2. nausea and/or diarrhea,
3. extreme body temperature changes,
4. excessive sweating,
5. shortness or breath,
6. light-headedness or fainting,
7. rapid heart beat,
8. dry mouth

6. Test Anxiety Symptoms Emotional: 1. excessive feelings of fear,
2. disappointment,
3. anger,
4. depression,
5. uncontrollable crying or laughing,
6. feelings of helplessness

7. Test Anxiety Symptoms Behavioral: 1. fidgeting, 2. pacing,
3. substance abuse,
4. avoidance

8. Test Anxiety Symptoms Cognitive: 1. racing thoughts, 2. 'going blank',
3. difficulty concentrating,
4. negative self-talk,
5. feelings of dread,
6. comparing yourself to others,
7. difficulty organizing your thoughts.

9. Test Anxiety What Causes It?
All anxiety is a reaction to anticipating something stressful - stated in other words, distress caused by fear
When you’re under stress, your body releases the hormone adrenaline - which prepares the body for danger
“Fight or Flight”
This is what causes the physical symptoms
Focusing on the bad things that could happen
“What if I forget everything?
“What if I throw up?”
Inevitably creates a vicious circle

10. Test Anxiety Who’s Likely To Have It? People who worry a lot
Perfectionists
Both worriers and perfectionists possess traits that make it difficult to accept mistakes they might make OR to get anything less than a perfect score
People who aren’t prepared but still care about doing well

11. Test Anxiety What Can You Do? Use a little stress to your advantage
Ask for help
BE PREPARED
Spread out studying over a few days or weeks
Try to maintain a positive attitude
Exercising may help reduce stress
Get a good night’s sleep
Show up to class early so you won’t worry about additional, preventable things like being late
Concentrate on own test, not how fast others are going

12. Test Anxiety What Can You Do?
Stay relaxed - take breaks during test if needed
Read all directions slowly and carefully
If you don’t understand something, ask the teacher
Do a quick skim through the test so you get an idea of how to pace yourself
Write down important formulas, definitions, keywords, etc. in the margin first so you won’t worry about forgetting them
Do simple questions first - build confidence
Focus on question at hand, don’t mind wander

13. The End
Questions?